Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-07
ANDRE THEREOF.

III was an Old French chateau on th6 |
banks OF the Loire; and when it was
first built, or conquered, by the ances-
tors OF the Comte de Maupassant, no
one knew. But the beautiful domain
OF Beaujolais had descended to the |
Maupassants for centuries in all I'M
brol..n line.
The present owner, Count Guy, was
perhaps the wealthiest and proudest
of his race. as he was also the last
His only child Blanche, little girl
about ten years old, was the sole sci
on OF that once numerous and pow
erful family, and what affection her
father had was lavished upon her.
But, like all the Maupassants, he was
cold-hearted and naughty, and when
his wife, whom he had married from
motives of interest, dropped, faded.
and died, in the lincongenial atmos-
phere OF the old chateau, he gave her
scant mourning.
As for the little Countess, she had
her governess and her bonnie. and, be-
ing extremity wilful. was allowed to do
pretty much as she pleased. Her
father, who spent the greater part OF
his time in Paris, was quite content,
on his visits to the chateau, to see
his beautiful little daughter healthy
and happy, and egreatest little des-
pot in the household, which was
wholly submissive to her widest
whims.
What life she led them! She re-
belled against the constant watchful-
ness OF governess and maids, and
nothing delighted her more than to
run away from them, and pass long
ours in wandering alone through the
deep forests and broad fields OF
Beaujolais. Her governess, good,
indolent woman, was in utter de-.
| spair at these escapades.
But, mademoiselle, / forbid you
to go alone"' she cried. SIT is not
CONNIE il fault for the Countess de
Maupassant to wander about alone,
like one OF the common children"
"'Then wish i was common peas
| ant child!' the little lady cried, stamp
ing her feet angrily. "They have got
children to play with them, and I've
got nobody but you and Bonnie
Marie; and you are ola, old, and you
can't jump and run and play. / will
| go by myself; and if you watch me or
| try to follow me, madame, will go
| outside the gate and run away to
Paris. There nowl"
| Poor Madame Duloc shook and
shivered at this threat. She knew the
child would keep her word, and then
what would happen? AS for punish
! ing her refractory charge as she de-
\ served, that she knew was utterly inn
/ possible, and would cost her an easy
and lucrative situation. So she
| weakly strove to compromise.
"Jf you would only take Celine,
mademoisele, then you might stay
| out as long as you please"
But | am running away from Celine
and everybody" she cried impatient
| ly. 81 hate to be watched, and if you
will do it, will run away. l will go
where | choose"
| Poor Madame Duloc raised her
hands and eyes in despair, but before
this will go she knew she was power
less. See did what she could; she ex-
acted q promise from Blanche that
she would never go beyond the park
gates. Wiliul and ungovernable as
the little Countess was, she had never
broken her word, so Madame Duloc
was forced to yield the point. She
would climb laboriously to the high
tower, and watch the child through
the fields, and until she was lostin the
recesses OF the forest. But after a
time, when Blanche came in regularly,
glowing with health and ready to
study more sedulously than she had
ever done, she ceased her espionage.
The lonely little girl found her life
| full of intrest now. She made friends
with the birds and squirrels. and all
the wild things of the field and for
est. She was warm-hearted, loving
little creature, though her best impul-
ses had been repressed by her arti-
fetal life, and it was her greatest pleas
ure to stop and chat with old Theriot,
the gardener, and his assistants, who
we're always busy about the grounds.
One beautiful spring morning, in her
| wanderings through the spacious
| gardens, Blanche came to an arch
| twined with the fragrant Provence
| rose. then in full bloom. They were
| high above her reach, nor was there a
| foothold on the arch where she could
climb She looked around. No one
was in sight but a tall lad. who was
| wedding one OF the beds.
Here, garcon, come and get me
some roses"
He came obediently, and gathered
her large cluster.
"You are very tall" she said, "to
reach up there. Where do you live,
and how old are you?"
Il am sixteen" and, mademoiselle,
| live here. | am Andre Theriot."
''Ah, you are the the gardener Their
lots son. | like him." nodding her
head eravely. "He is a good man.
He lets me pick the nectarines myself.
| Do you want a rose. Andre?" holding
| ont one, with the air OF a young en-
press. Andre put out his hand for 1T,
! when she drew it back, with a mis-.
chievous laugh.
Come. now, I'm going to treat you
as madame does me, when she gives
me bonbons. You must spell rose
before you get it.
The lads handsome face flushed
crimson.
"But, mamselle," he stammered,
81 can't spell. don't know my let
ters.'
Don't know your letters, you, o
big, strong boy of sixteenl Oh, you
must be very lazy! Why don't you
learp?"
but, mamselle, my father is too